JP2650233B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer such as a dot printer or an ink jet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional printer.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body cover. A print head 2 is provided in the main body cover 1 so as to be movable in the direction of an arrow along a platen (not shown) via a carrier 3 and the like. Paper P is supplied between the print head 2 and the platen in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carrier 3, and printing is performed in cooperation with the head 2 and the platen.

A paper discharge port 5 is provided in a portion of the main body cover 1 downstream of the print area where printing is performed on the paper by the print head 2 in the paper transport direction (direction of arrow D). The printed paper is discharged.

Conventionally, when a printer selects and determines (sets up) a font and a character pitch of a print character prior to a printing operation, each item content 9 such as the font is printed on a sheet by a print head 2. Thereafter, the sheet is fed by performing a line feed operation until the sheet portion on which each item content 9 is printed is pulled out from the sheet discharge port 5 to the outside. Then, the operator performs the setup by seeing each item content 9 printed on the paper portion pulled out to the outside.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned printer, when setting up, each item content 9
After printing on the paper, the paper must be fed until the printed portion of the paper is pulled out from the paper discharge port 5, which takes a long time and wastes the paper.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can be set up quickly without wasting paper in view of the above circumstances.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print head which is moved in a predetermined direction via a carrier in a main body cover, and a main body which is located downstream of a print area where printing is performed on paper by the print head in a paper transport direction. In a printer in which a paper discharge port is provided in a cover portion, a print content viewable portion is provided on a portion of the main body cover opposed to the print region so that print content made on paper can be viewed from the outside, and the print head is provided with the print head. A print head retracting means for controlling the drive of the carrier is provided so that the print head is retracted to a predetermined position outside the printable content visible portion after the setup item content is printed.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the print head retracting means controls the drive of the carrier after the print head prints the contents of the set-up items on the paper and moves the print head to a predetermined position outside the printable portion of the main body cover. Evacuate to

[0010] Thus, the operator can set up by seeing the item contents through the print contents visible portion without being disturbed by the print head.

As described above, since the contents of the setup items can be viewed through the printed contents visible portion of the main body cover, there is no need to feed the sheet until the item contents printed portion is pulled out from the paper discharge port as in the conventional case. That saves time and paper.

As a result, the paper can be set up quickly without wasting paper.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer according to the present embodiment includes a main body cover 1, a print head 2, a carrier 3, a control device 10, and a print head retracting means (11, 1).
2).

The same components as those shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

Here, in a portion of the main body cover 1 facing the print area (effective print area by the print head 2), there is provided a print content viewable portion 29 which allows the print content made on the paper to be viewed from the outside. I have. In the present embodiment, the printed content visible portion 29 of the main body cover 1 is formed by making a portion of the cover 1 facing the print area transparent.

The control device 10 is a means for controlling the drive of the carrier 3, the print head 2 and the like. As shown in FIG.
It is composed of various switch groups 14 and I / O ports 15. The carrier 3 and the home position sensor 19 are connected to the control device 10. In the present embodiment, the home position of the print head 2 is selected at the leftmost position in FIG. 1 within the movable range of the print head 2, and the home position sensor 19 is provided corresponding to the home position. I have.

Further, the print head retreating means is provided at a predetermined position (the home position described above in the present embodiment) at which the print head 2 is deviated from the print content observable section 29 after the setup item content is printed by the print head 2. This is means for controlling the drive of the carrier 3 so as to be retracted to the position. In the present embodiment, the print head retracting means is the CP of the control device 10.
It is formed by U11 and ROM12.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the setup start command is output, the CPU 11 of the control device 10
The print head 2 and the carrier 3 are driven and controlled on the basis of the setup program stored in the printer to print the setup item contents 9 (for example, items; fonts, contents; Mincho) on paper (step ST10).

After printing the item contents, the CPU 11 controls the drive of the carrier 3 to retract the print head 2 to a home position outside the print contents visible portion 29. At this time, when the print head 2 reaches the home position, it is detected by the home position sensor 19,
The head 2 can be reliably positioned at the home position.

Thus, the operator can set the print head 2
The item contents 9 can be viewed through the print contents visible portion 29 without being disturbed by the user.

Here, when it is desired to change item content 9 (for example, when it is desired to change the font from Mincho to Gothic)
Is changed by appropriately operating the specific switch 14a in the switch group 14 (steps ST14 and ST1).
6).

The above set-up operation is carried out for each item 9
When all the changes (confirmation) of the contents are completed for each time, the setup ends (step ST18).

According to this embodiment, the print head 2 is provided with a print content viewable portion 29 at the portion facing the print area of the main body cover 1 so that the print content made on the paper can be viewed from outside. Print head retraction means (11, 1) for driving and controlling the carrier 3 so that the print head 2 is retracted to a predetermined position (home position) outside the print content visible portion 29 after the setup item contents 9 are printed.
Since the configuration 2) is provided, it is possible to set up quickly without wasting paper.

Further, since the printed content visible portion 29 is formed by making the portion of the main body cover 1 that faces the printing area transparent, dust and the like are exposed to dust through the portion.
It does not enter the interior and the print quality does not deteriorate.
In addition, the structure does not become complicated and large.

In the above-described embodiment, the printed content visible portion 9 is formed by making the portion of the main body cover 1 facing the printing area transparent, but is formed by opening the main body cover 1 portion. Is also good. In this configuration, an openable and closable lid is provided at the opening so that dust does not enter the cover 1, and the lid is opened to set up the item 9 for setup.
May be configured to be viewed.

[0027]

According to the present invention, a print content viewable portion is provided in a portion of the main body cover facing the print area so that the print content made on the paper can be viewed from the outside, and the print head allows the setup item contents to be viewed. Since the print head retracting means for driving and controlling the carrier is provided so that the print head is retracted to a predetermined position outside the print content visible portion after printing, the paper can be set up quickly without wasting paper. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical and electronic configuration of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cover 2 Print head 3 Carrier 11 CPU (Print head retracting means) 12 ROM (Print head retracting means) 29 Printable contents visible section

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print head which is moved in a predetermined direction via a carrier in a main body cover, and a paper discharge port is provided in a main body cover portion downstream of a print area where printing is performed on paper by the print head in a paper transport direction. In the printer, a print content viewable portion is provided on a portion of the main body cover facing the print area so that the print content made on the paper can be viewed from the outside, and the setup item content is printed by the print head. A printer, further comprising: a print head retracting unit for driving and controlling the carrier so that the print head is later retracted to a predetermined position outside the printable content visible portion.